Japan To Send Two Massive Patrol Ships To The East China Sea

Japan will deploy two more patrol ships to boost its defence of
islands at the centre of a territorial row with China and has
conducted its first drill simulating the recapture of an isle
seized by enemy forces.

The vessels will be stationed at the regional coast guard
headquarters which covers the Japanese-controlled Senkaku islands
in the East China Sea, known as the Diaoyus in China, Japanese
public broadcaster NHK said.

The 335-tonne "Kurose" and the 3,100-tonne "Chikuzen", equipped
with a helicopter, will be deployed in August and October
respectively, NHK reported.

On Sunday, Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force carried out the
nation's first military exercise designed to recapture "a remote
island invaded by an enemy force," officials said.

Some 300 troops took part in the 40-minute drill with 20
warplanes and more than 30 military vehicles at the Narashino
Garrison in Chiba, southeast of Tokyo.

Some 80 personnel from the SDF's First Airborne Brigade rappelled
from helicopters with parachutes in front of some 11,000
spectators to demonstrate manoeuvres to counter an enemy invasion
of a remote island.

"We will strengthen the deployment of the Self-Defense Force in
response to the tougher security environment surrounding our
country," Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera told the military.

Chinese government ships and planes have been seen off the
disputed islands numerous times since Japan nationalised them in
September, sometimes within the 12 nautical-mile territorial
zone.

Tokyo's defence ministry has said that F-15s were sent airborne
to head off Chinese state-owned -- but not military -- planes
four times in December, including an occasion when Japanese
airspace was breached.

They were also mobilised in January, it said.

Japan plans to spend an extra 180.5 billion yen ($2.0 billion) on
missiles, fighter jets and helicopters, an official said last
week, as it tries to strengthen defence capabilities with
concerns growing over a rising China.

The announcement came after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling
Liberal Democratic Party said Japan would increase military
spending for the first time in 11 years in the next fiscal year
starting April.